Cactus And Succulent Plants: Status Survey And Conservation Action Plan

226 Pages·1997·14.85 MB·English

by  IUCN/SSC Cactus and Succulent Specialist Group

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Cactus and Succulent Plants:
Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan
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The Chicago Zoological Society ]SZC( sedivorp tnacifingis dnik-ni dna hsac troppus ot eht ,CSSgnidulcni
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world and over 5.2 million regular supporters. WWF continues to be known as World Wildlife Fund in
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Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan
Cactus and
Succulent Plants
Compiled by Sara Oldfield
IUCN/SSC Cactus and Succulent Specialist Group
The World Consewation Union SI'LCI~S Suitv1v.4~ COMMISSI~)N
m @
Sultanate of Oman Chicago Zoological Society
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Published by: IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK
Copyright: 0 1997 International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
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Citation: Oldfield, Sara (camp.) (1997). Cactus and Succulent Plants- Status Sun/ey and Consen/ation Action
Plan. IUCN/SSC Cactus and Succulent Specialist Group. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.
IO + 212 pp.
ISBN: 2-8317-0390-5
Cover photo: Pachypodium namaquanum, the renowned ‘Half Mens’ from the Richtersveld, at one time listed
on CITES Appendix I; now considered relatively safe, but still Vulnerable in parts of its range.
(National Botanical Institute)
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Contents
Foreword ......................................... V Southern Africa .............................. .67
Distribution in southern Africa ............... 69
Acknowledgements ................................ vi Conservation status. ....................... .70
Threats ................................. ..7 2
Executive Summary ............................... vii Existing conservation measures.. ............. 75
(English, Spanish, French) Proposed conservation strategy .............. .85
North America. .............................. .85
Acronyms ........................................ X
Succulentp lant flora in the United States ...... 86
Introduction ...................................... 1 Threats ................................. ..8 6
Local usesa nd commercialisation. ........... .86
Chapter 1. Taxonomic Groups ..................... .3 Existing conservation measures.. ............ .87
Agavaceae. ................................. ...3 Assessmenot f existing conservation measures.. .88
Aizoaceae .................................. ...8 Mexico.......................................8 9
Aloaceae.....................................lO Succulent plant flora. ...................... .89
Asclepiadaceae.. .............................. 14 Localuse.................................. 0
Cactaceae.. ................................ ..17 Threats ................................. ..9 0
Crassulaceae..................................2 0 Conservation status. ....................... .93
Euphorbiaceae. .............................. .23 Priority sitesf or succulentp lant conservation .. .94
Portulacaceae .............................. ..2 6 Existing conservation measures. .............. 95
The West Indies. ............................. .99
Chapter 2. Conservation Measures ................. .28 The succulentf lora: plant communities and
National legislation ........................... .28 siteso f occurrence ....................... 100
International legislation ....................... .30 Threats.. .............................. ..lO 3
The Convention on Biological Diversity. ....... 30 Conservation status. ....................... 106
The Berne Convention ..................... .30 Priority sitesf or conservation. ............... 106
The EC Habitats Directive. ................. .30 Existing conservation measures. ............. 109
Controlling the trade. ......................... .31 South America ............................... 111
CITES....................................3 1 The Caribbean Region ..................... 111
Illegal trade. .............................. .36 The Andean Region ....................... 112
Trade in non-CITES succulents.. ............ .37 The Brazilian Region ...................... 118
In situ conservation ........................... .37 The Chile-PatagonianR egion ............... 125
Protecting the habitats of threatened species.. . .37
Protected areas ........................... .38 Chapter 4. Action Proposals ...................... .128
International designations .................. .38 General.....................................12 8
National designations. ..................... .40 Ex situ conservation. .......................... 129
Private land. .............................. .41 Taxon specific. ............................... 130
Speciesm anagement. ...................... .42 Agavaceae................................13 0
Ex situ conservation. .......................... .42 Aloaceae.................................13 1
Botanic garden networks ................... .43 Crassulaceae... ........................... 131
Seedbanks.. ............................ ..4 5 Regional action proposals.. .................... 131
Botanic gardens. .......................... .45 Canary Islands ............................ 131
Hobbyist collections and nurseries ........... .49 Mediterranean region. ..................... 131
Somalia. ................................. 131
Chapter 3. Regional Accounts. .................... .52 Southern Africa ........................... 132
Tropical Africa. .............................. .52 Madagascar ............................ ..13 5
Somalia-Masair egional centre of endemism. .. .53 India .................................. ..13 6
Kenya .................................. ..5 3 United States of America. .................. 136
Ethiopia ................................. .55 Mexico and United States of America ........ 138
Somalia. ................................. .57 Mexico...................................13 8
Madagascar...................................5 9 Central America .......................... 140
Threats ................................. ..6 1 Caribbean. ............................... 140
Conservation status. ....................... .63 South America. ........................... 142
Priority sitesf or conservation. ................ 64 Columbia/Venezuela. ...................... 142
Existing conservation measures. .............. 65 Venezuela................................14 3
Ecuador..................................14 3 Annex 8 Threatened succulentsr ecorded for the
Peru.....................................14 3 Flora of southern Africa (FSA) region . . . 179
Chile .................................. ..14 3
Brazil....................................14 3 Annex 9 Threatened succulentso f Zimbabwe. . . . . . . 185
Paraguay ................................. 144
Annex 10 Threatened succulentso f India . . . . . . . . . . . 186
References ...................................... 145
Annex 11 Threatened succulentso f Mexico . . . . . . . . . 189
Annex 1 Agavaceaew ith restricted distribution ..... 156
Annex 12 Mexican succulentn urseries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Annex 2 Asclepiadaceaeo f conservation concern ... 159
Annex 13 Mexican botanic gardens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Annex 3 Succulentsr egulated by CITES . . . . . . . . . . 164
Annex 14 Succulentso f the West Indies . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Annex 4 Kenyan succulentso f highest
conservation priority. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165 Annex 15 Brazilian cacti. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Annex 5 Succulentso f the Mediterranean Region . . 166 Annex 16 The IUCN Red List Categories. . . . . . . . . . .203
Annex 6 Succulentso f the Canary Islands. . . . . . . I . 171 Annex 17 IUCN/SSC Cactus and Succulent
Plant SpecialistG roup membersa nd
Annex 7 Succulentso f Madagascar. . . . . . . . . . . . . , . 174 contributing authors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .208
iv
Foreword
The sight was depressing. We looked closely at the huge This Action Plan is a much-needed publication on
pile of dead cacti to see if any had survived, but none were cacti and succulents, for it brings together data that have
found. Commercial collectors had dug up these hundreds never been compiled before, which should help greatly in
of plants, but for some reason had simply left them conservation efforts of cacti and succulents throughout
behind to die. I had seen the destruction of cactus the world. Included is information on eight succulent
populations in other places, where whole hillsides of cacti families, as well as nine geographic regions of the world,
had been removed and carried away, but nowhere nearly plus conservation strategies including trade control.
as many plants had been ruthlessly removed and left to However, the most important part of the Action Plan is
die as in this remote area of the Chihuahuan Desert. the section dealing with proposals for conservation
Devastation of populations of cacti and succulents has actions. These are both timely and practical, for experts
occurred in many parts of the world, sometimes through from various regions have described how conservation
greed and selfishness of people who wish to make money efforts can be carried out. It is hoped that these proposals
from the plants, but at other times as land is converted to will stimulate governments, foundations, other
agriculture, bulldozed for houses or highways, or flooded organisations and individuals to respond to this ever-
to create dams. increasing crisis concerning the conservation of cacti and
For 40 years I have travelled throughout the arid succulents.
regions of both North and South America doing research It has been my privilege to serve as Chair of the
on cacti. I have been fortunate to see some of the rarest Cactus and Succulent Specialist Group of the Species
cacti known, but have also witnessed their pillage by Survival Commission for nearly ten years. The conception
people who fail to understand their importance in the and writing of this Action Plan is clearly the most
wild and who do not care if they are destroyed, thus significant contribution of this Group. It has been a
depriving future generations of the experience of seeing challenge developing this work, for the Group wanted the
them. The same things are happening in areas of Africa expertise of the world’s authorities, who are often heavily
and Madagascar. Cacti and succulents face terrible committed to other projects. Those that responded with
threats as the human population grows and land is contributions have made this Action Plan unique and of
converted from its natural state. Scientists are struggling considerable value. Their willingness to contribute
to learn what they can before some of these populations chapters or sections is greatly appreciated. Special thanks
of plants disappear, but it is discouraging to see tagged go to Sara Oldfield, Secretary of the Group, for
plants removed from study sites by unscrupulous overseeing and compiling the material as it was submitted.
collectors, or a study area bulldozed to make a wider The project would never have been possible without her
road. At times the frustration has been so great that one is efforts. Wendy Strahm and Robin Sears of the Species
led to wonder if conservation activities are worth the time Survival Commission also deserve many thanks for seeing
and effort. But then one hears the statement that “if only the Plan through to its final production.
people knew what was happening, then they might stop As one looks at this Action Plan, I ask that it be read
this needless destruction.” Or we see a piece of with deep appreciation, not only of the plants described,
countryside that has been set aside specifically to protect but also for the contributions of so many who work with
and preserve a population of rare plants. We may read a them. Hopefully, this publication will facilitate
report that collectors have been arrested for illegally conservation efforts on behalf of the cacti and succulents,
removing plants. These are what give us hope; perhaps we a remarkable group of plants that must be preserved for
can inform and educate people of the importance of eternity.
preserving cacti and succulents in the wild, and, as a
result, species can be saved from extinction. Dr. Edward F. Anderson
Chair, IUCN/SSC Cactus and Succulent Specialist Group
Acknowledgements
The preparation of this SSC Action Plan has been a Action Plan, and to Wendy Strahm and Robin Sears for
collaborative and largely voluntary venture to which many ensuring its completion. Robin Sears played a particularly
specialists have given freely of their time and expertise. important role in assisting with the final editing, picture
Authors and contributors to the Plan are listed in Annex research and preparation of the report for publication.
17. Their work on this document, both in the initial Thanks also go to Gary Lyons and Rob Wallace for final
preparation of the manuscripts, and subsequent help with review of the text; and to Juan Manuel Lopez Ramirez for
additional information, review, and provision of the Spanish translation, and Paul Strahm and Bertrand de
illustrations is greatly appreciated. In turn, the authors Montmollin for the French translation of the Executive
have consulted widely in the preparation of their accounts Summary. Institutional support is acknowledged from the
and acknowledgements are given at the end of individual Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix; Royal Botanic
sections as appropriate. All members of the SSC Group Gardens, Kew; and World Conservation Monitoring
have been involved in the preparation of the SSC Action Centre. Financial support for preparation of the Action
Plan in some way, together with many members of the Plan was provided by the Peter Scott IUCN/SSC Action
10s and experts in conservation organisations. Sincere Plan fund.
thanks to everyone involved. Special thanks are due to
Ted Anderson, Susan Carter-Holmes, Craig Hilton- Sara Oldfield
Taylor, Gideon Smith, Diedrich Supthut, and Nigel Secretary, IUCN/SSC Cactus and Succulent Specialist Group
Taylor for guidance and encouragement in developing the
vi
Executive Summary
The often bizarre growth-forms and attractive flowers of Chapter 2 of the Action Plan describes and reviews
cacti and other succulents have promoted widespread existing conservation measures for succulent plants
interest in this group of plants and horticultural around the world with information on legislation,
popularity worldwide. Succulent plants are also of great controlling the trade, and in situ and ex situ conservation.
ecological and economic significance, particularly in arid The intention of this chapter is to identify successful
and semi-arid parts of the world. Although the definition conservation activities which can be used as models
of succulence as applied to plants is constantly under elsewhere, and also to highlight priorities for further
debate, about 10,000 plant species are generally action. It is particularly important in reviewing
recognised as succulent, within thirty plant families. international conservation measures to show how
Of these succulent plant species, an estimated 2000 succulent plant conservation needs can be linked into
species are threatened with global extinction in the wild, broader initiatives and frameworks for biodiversity
and many more are regionally or nationally threatened. conservation.
Habitat destruction is the major threat, and in common Action for succulent plant conservation must take
with other horticulturally desirable plant groups, over- place primarily at the national and local levels and be
collection for international trade remains a significant implemented as far as possible by in-country agencies and
problem. The Cactus and Succulent Plants Action Plan, local experts. This is accepted throughout the Action
produced by members of the Species Survival Plan, and Chapter 3, the regional accounts, has been
Commission of IUCN-The World Conservation Union, largely prepared by experts within the regions concerned.
brings together current information, never before Chapter 3 concentrates on the regions of the world which
compiled, on the population status, threats, and have the major concentrations of succulent p lants.
conservation of this group of important plants from The final chapter of the Plan describes the priority
around the world. From this compilation, priorities for conservation action proposals, developed by the members
conservation action are emphasised, providing direction of the SSC Cactus and Succulent Plant Specialist Group,
for funding in plant conservation work. Conservationists, for succulent plants around the world. Implementing
scientists, government officials, protected area managers, these proposals will save the maximum diversity of
educators, and grant awarding bodies alike should find succulents based on our present knowledge.
this document helpful in their work to conserve global The SSC Cactus and Succulent Specialist Group calls
and local flora. The contributors to this Action Plan for:
encourage collaborative work among these interested
parties. Field research to support understanding of the
The publication comprises four chapters and a series taxonomy and conservation status of succulent plants,
of annexes that provide readers with concise information Increased in situ protection for succulent plant species
on the current status of cactus and succulent populations. through the development of protected area networks,
The extensive bibliography provides a comprehensive Coordinated ex situ protection of threatened succulent
resource for more information on this group of plants. species to support the conservation of species in their
The Plan begins with overviews, written by botanists who natural habitats wherever possible,
specialise in the study of these particular plant families, of Effective national legislation for all threatened
the distribution, diversity, threats, and status of eight main succulent plant species,
taxonomic groups of succulents including the Agavaceae, Effective trade controls for all wild succulent plant
Aizoaceae, Aloaceae, Asclepiadaceae, Cactaceae, species threatened by exploitation for international
Crassulaceae, Euphorbiaceae, and Portulacaceae. Some commerce,
of these groups are of great economic importance, many Education on the value of succulent plants and the
in the ornamental trade industry, and others, such as the need for their conservation and sustainable use.
Agavaceae, in the fibre and food industries.
vii
Redmen
Las a menudo extranas formas de crecimiento y las flores El Capitulo 2 de este Plan de Action describe y
atractivas de cactus y otras plantas suculentas han logrado examina las medidas de conservation existentes para las
un inter& general por este grupo de plantas y una plantas suculentas de todo el mundo, con information
popularidad para su utilization en horticultura en todo el sobre legislation, control de1 comercio y conservation in
mundo. La s plantas suculentas son tambie n de gran situ y ex situ. El objetivo de este capitulo es identificar las
importancia ecologica y economica icularm ente en las actividades exitosas de conservation que pueden ser
zonas aridas y semiaridas de todo el mundo. Aunque la usadas como modelos en otros lugares y muestra ademas
definition de suculencia aplicada a las plantas esta las prioridades para una action mas completa. Es
constantemente en debate, cerca de unas 10.000 especies particularmente importante en el analisis de las medidas
de plantas, clasificadas en unas 30 familias, son de conservation international, mostrar coma las
reconocidas generalmente corn0 suculentas. necesidades de conservation de las plantas suculentas
De estas especies de planta s suculentas, unas 2.000 pueden ser unidas dentro de las iniciativas generales de
estan globalmente amenazadas en la naturaleza con la conservation y en 10s marcos para la conservation de la
extincion, y muchas otras en peligro regional o national. biodiversidad.
La destruction de1 habitat es la mayor amenaza, y es La action para la conservation de las plantas
compartida con otros grupos atractivos de plantas de suculentas debe tomarse ante todo en 10s niveles locales y
jardineria, en donde su sobreexplotacion para el comercio nacionales y ser llevada a cabo tanto coma sera possible
international es un problema de gran trascendencia. El por agencias estatales y locales especializadas. Esto es
Plan de Action para Cactus y Plantas Suculentas, que aceptado en todo el Plan de Action, y en el Capitulo 3,10s
elaboraron 10s miembros de la Comision de Supervivencia informes regionales han sido preparados por expertos de
de Especies (CSE) de la UICN - Union Mundial para la las propias regiones. El Capitulo 3 se concentra en las
regiones de1 mundo que tienen el mayor numero de
plantas suculentas.
El capitulo final describe las propuestas de acciones
prioritarias para la conservation para las plantas
suculentas de todo el mundo. Lo elaboraran miembros
de1 Grupo Especialista de la CSE/UICN en Cactaceas y
directrices para el financiamiento de1 trabajo de Suculeantas. Hacienda efectivas estas propuestas, basadas
conservation de las plantas. Conservacionistas, cientificos, en nuestros conocimientos actuales, salvaremos al
funcionarios, gestores de areas protegidas, educadores y maxim0 la diversidad de las suculentas.
organismos financiadores, de1 mismo modo, podrian El Grupo Especialista CSE en Cactus y Suculentas
encontrar ayuda en este document0 para sus trabajos de pide:
conservation de la flora local y global. Los contribuidores
a este Plan de Action animan al trabajo de colaboracion Una investigation de campo para apoyar el
entre estos grupos interesados. entendimiento de la taxonomia y el estado de
La publication consta de quatro capitulos y una serie conservation de las plantas suculentas,
de anexos que proporcionan a 10s lectores una Aumento de la protection in situ de las especies de
information concisa sobre el estado actual de las plantas suculentas a traves de1 desarrollo de redes de
poblaciones de cactus y suculentas. La extensa areas protegidas,
bibliografia proporciona una amplia fuente de Coordination de la protection ex situ de las plantas
information suplementaria sobre cactus y plantas suculentas para apoyar la conservation de especies en
suculentas. El Plan comienza con resumenes, que sus hgbitats naturales dondequiera que sea posible,
escriben botanicos especializados en el estudio de estas Una legislation national eficaz para todas las especies
familias especificas de plantas, acerca de la distribution, de plantas suculentas amenazadas,
diversidad, amenazas y el estado de echo grupos Controles efectivos sobre el comercio de todas las
taxonomicos principales de cactus y suculentas entre las plantas suculentas silvestres amenazadas por la
que se encuentran las familias Agavaceae, Aizorceae, sobreexplotacion en el comercio international,
Aloaceae, Asclepiadaceae, Cactaceae, Crassulaceae, Education sobre el valor de las plantas suculentas y la
Euphorbiaceae, y Portulaceae. Algunos de estos grupos necesidad de conservation y uso sostenible.
son de gran importancia economica, muchos de ellos
incluidos en el comercio de ornamentales. v otros coma
las Agavaceas, en las industrias alimentaria y textil.
.. .
VIII